Opinion

Letter to the Editor-Rich Guggenheim

Posted:
08/06/2013 08:22:44 AM MDT

Updated:
08/06/2013 08:23:17 AM MDT

Editor,Most Americans are familiar with the oath of office any elected official takes when they take public office. That oath, to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; [and] bear true faith and allegiance to the same” must mean little to our local congressman, Cory Gardner. Indeed, honesty and integrity must mean nothing to him! At issue is how he, a conservative, who is supposedly against “big government” voted on the amendment to defund the NSA which has been broadly, and illegally, spying on American citizens without any type of warrant. Cory had the opportunity to defend the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution. He missed it. I emailed Cory about this issue. In his reply Cory admitted that the NSA and the unconstitutional FISA court had been “Seeking and receiving classified court orders demanding the phone records and other personal information from millions of Americans.” Congressman Gardner went on to state that “While it is important to maintain the safety of our citizens, it should not come at the expense of our constitutionally-guaranteed rights. The Fourth Amendment must be protected – not disregarded. It is disturbing and concerning that the government could pursue an extensive data-gathering operation without search warrants and without the knowledge of the American people, particularly when the link to national security is questionable.

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It is hard for me to believe that the phone call between a husband and wife regarding what time the movie starts could be a matter of national security.” I am calling out Cory Gardner for his blatant disregard of his duty to defend the Constitution of the United States, and the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures. We, the American People demand an explanation. We deserve better than to be denied our rights, and lied to when we confront our elected officials about the violation of our basic freedoms and rights. Cory Gardner should be removed from office, forcibly if need be, along with every other member of congress who voted to continue the NSA’s illegal violation of our rights. Cory should be ashamed for lying to his constituents and for supporting large government which he repeatedly claims to be against.I am calling out members of the Republican Party for their hypocrisy in allowing our congressman to get away with this violation of your party’s platform of “small government.” Stand up for small government and shut down the NSA! This is no longer a Republican or a Democratic Party issue. As seen by the voting records of the members of the House of Representatives this is a trans-partisan issue. If the American people were as upset about their government spying on them as they were about the George Zimmerman case or the infringement of their Second Amendment rights the NSA and the FISA court would not exist. Many brave men and women have died to ensure the liberties granted to us in the Constitution are protected and preserved. It is time for the American people to stand up and speak out against the illegal behavior of a government that is out of control. It is time to remove from office any representatives who will discard their duties to be honest with their fellow men, and to defend the US Constitution.The American people who failed to speak out in opposition of the violation of their Fourth Amendment rights and continue to support Congressman Cory Gardner should be ashamed.